Are We Beginning to See the Light?

Full Survey Results

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q1. Thinking about the U.S. economy, what do you think is the most important thing the United States can do to make sure its economy is healthy. Please tell me the first thing that comes to mind. (Only top responses are listed.)

Create more/better paying jobs

37%

35%

Need healthcare/healthcare insurance/reform

10%

8%

Stop spending/giving money

6%

7%

Taxes

6%

7%

Need better education system

6%

5%

Don't know

10%

11%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q2. Thinking now about job opportunities for people where you live, would you say there are plenty of good jobs available or are good jobs difficult to find?

Plenty of good jobs available

11%

8%

Good jobs are difficult to find

83%

84%

Lots of some jobs, few of others (Vol.)

3%

4%

Don't know

2%

4%

There is no Q3

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q4. And are there more jobs available for people who have good math and science skills than there are other jobs, are there fewer jobs for people who have good math and science skills than other jobs, or are there about the same number of jobs available for people with strong math and science skills as there are other jobs?

More math/science jobs

33%

31%

Other jobs

13%

15%

About the same number of jobs

44%

40%

Don't know

10%

13%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

QD5. Does your job require you to use a lot, a little or no math at all? [Base: Asked of those employed full- or part-time]

A lot

33%

36%

A little

56%

53%

None

11%

10%

Don't know

-

1%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q5. Do you think the most pressing problems facing the high schools in your local community more likely come from...?

Social problems and kids who misbehave

63%

56%

Low academic standards and outdated curricula

27%

31%

Don't know

9%

13%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q6. Suppose your community got extra money to spend on its schools and you were asked to help decide how to spend that money. Would you prefer the money go toward...?

Reducing class size

35%

33%

Making pre-school available to all children

15%

15%

Improving math and science education

28%

27%

Paying teachers more

19%

20%

Don't know

3%

5%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q7. Would you say that generally speaking, the schools in your community are doing a good job preparing students for the following?

For college level ENGLISH courses?

Doing a good job preparing students

55%

46%

They need to be doing a lot better

38%

43%

Don't know

7%

11%

For college level MATH courses?

Doing a good job preparing students

52%

45%

They need to be doing a lot better

41%

45%

Don't know

7%

10%

To be successful as adults?

Doing a good job preparing students

53%

44%

They need to be doing a lot better

41%

48%

Don't know

6%

8%

For college level SCIENCE courses?

Doing a good job preparing students

50%

44%

They need to be doing a lot better

41%

45%

Don't know

10%

11%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q8. Here are some things the schools may or may not need to teach students before they are done with high school and go out into the real world. Do you think this is absolutely essential, important but not essential or not important (for schools to teach students)?

Basic reading and writing skills

Absolutely essential

90%

91%

Important, but not essential

9%

8%

Not important

1%

1%

Basic math skills

Absolutely essential

87%

87%

Important, but not essential

13%

12%

Not important

1%

1%

Being able to work well as part of a team

Absolutely essential

80%

74%

Important, but not essential

19%

24%

Not important

1%

2%

Basic scientific ideas and principles

Absolutely essential

60%

56%

Important, but not essential

36%

38%

Not important

3%

4%

Being able to use concepts taught in algebra

Absolutely essential

55%

50%

Important, but not essential

40%

41%

Not important

4%

7%

Knowing how to speak a foreign language

Absolutely essential

36%

31%

Important, but not essential

49%

52%

Not important

14%

16%

Understanding advanced sciences, like physics

Absolutely essential

31%

28%

Important, but not essential

55%

56%

Not important

12%

13%

Advanced math, like calculus

Absolutely essential

28%

26%

Important, but not essential

58%

54%

Not important

12%

17%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q9. In your own words, what does the phrase "21st century skills" mean to you? Just tell me the first thing that comes to mind.

Computer literacy

27%

27%

Technology/More technologically savvy

24%

20%

Having a better education

8%

11%

Other

8%

10%

Communication and teamwork skills

5%

5%

Innovation/Modernization

6%

5%

Reading & writing skills

2%

5%

Math/Math literacy

3%

5%

More & better job skills

2%

4%

Being able to adapt & compete in a global environment

4%

4%

Science/Science literacy

3%

3%

More skills (general)

4%

3%

No/None/Nothing

3%

3%

Electronics

2%

2%

Survival & life skills

1%

1%

English/English literacy

*

1%

Having better problem solving/critical thinking skills

1%

1%

Don't know

14%

13%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q10. Thinking about the schools in your community, as far as you know who is responsible for setting the academic standards? Is it...

The school district,

32%

32%

The state, or

49%

47%

Is it set by the federal government?

11%

11%

Don't know

7%

10%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q11. Would you say the standards in your local schools are higher than the standards of most of the United States, lower than the standards of most of the United States, or about the same? [Base: Asked of those who said that the school district or the state were responsible for academic standards]

Higher

28%

26%

Lower

18%

18%

About the same

51%

52%

Don't know

3%

4%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q10A. Thinking more specifically about your child, do you think that his/her school should be teaching him/her a lot more math and science, less, or are things fine as they are? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

More math and science

45%

--

Less math and science

2%

--

Things are fine as is

52%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q10B. Do you think the public schools should be teaching children a lot more math and science, less, or are things fine as they are? [Base: Asked of those who are not parents of K-12 grade children]

More math and science

--

68%

Less math and science

--

1%

Things are fine as is

--

26%

Don't know

--

5%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q11K. Please tell me if you think the following statements are true or false. If you don't know, please tell me. Would you say the following is true or false?

In order to teach science in high school you have to have either majored in science or passed a test that shows you are qualified to teach it.

TRUE

77%

78%

FALSE

13%

13%

Don't know

10%

9%

Most students studying math in middle and high school are taught by teachers who either majored in math or passed a test that shows they are qualified to teach it.

TRUE

75%

71%

FALSE

15%

19%

Don't know

10%

10%

The majority of students who finish a graduate program in engineering in the United States are from other countries.

TRUE

58%

52%

FALSE

27%

30%

Don't know

16%

17%

On nationwide tests, most eighth graders score "proficient" or better in math.

TRUE

41%

35%

FALSE

44%

47%

Don't know

15%

18%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q12. Do you agree or disagree with the following statements:

Students with advanced math and science skills will have a big advantage when it comes to college opportunities.

Strongly agree

67%

66%

Somewhat agree

21%

22%

Somewhat disagree

7%

8%

Strongly disagree

3%

2%

Don't know

2%

2%

Even if students don't use advanced math and science after school, the subjects can teach them critical thinking skills that will help them following graduation.

Strongly agree

63%

63%

Somewhat agree

25%

26%

Somewhat disagree

6%

4%

Strongly disagree

4%

4%

Don't know

3%

3%

In the future, there will be a lot more jobs that require advanced math and science skills.

Strongly agree

53%

54%

Somewhat agree

31%

30%

Somewhat disagree

8%

8%

Strongly disagree

5%

5%

Don't know

3%

4%

Too many students today are not really learning basic math.

Strongly agree

43%

48%

Somewhat agree

29%

25%

Somewhat disagree

14%

12%

Strongly disagree

11%

9%

Don't know

4%

6%

The U.S. economy would improve if many more students had college degrees.

Strongly agree

43%

40%

Somewhat agree

24%

21%

Somewhat disagree

18%

22%

Strongly disagree

12%

13%

Don't know

3%

4%

It is more important for students to graduate high school with strong reading and writing skills than it is to have strong math and science skills.

Strongly agree

39%

38%

Somewhat agree

26%

26%

Somewhat disagree

19%

17%

Strongly disagree

11%

12%

Don't know

5%

7%

Many more companies would move into your area if it had a reputation for workers with great science and math skills.

Strongly agree

29%

31%

Somewhat agree

24%

23%

Somewhat disagree

23%

20%

Strongly disagree

17%

17%

Don't know

8%

9%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q13. Do you think that ability in math and science is something kids are mostly born with, or is it mostly something kids can learn in school and develop with experience?

Something kids are mostly born with

14%

13%

Something kids can learn in school and develop with experience

80%

81%

Don't know

5%

5%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q14. There are many reasons that students might do poorly in math and science. Of these two statements, please tell me which better explains why students may do poorly in math and science.

There are not enough really good math and science teachers

31%

33%

Students think the subject is irrelevant to their lives

61%

58%

Neither

4%

4%

Don't know

4%

6%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q15. Which comes closer to your view, even if neither is exactly right?

Elementary schools need to focus more on science; children need to understand basic scientific principles before they enter 6th grade

31%

28%

It is more important for elementary school students to focus on reading, writing and mathematics, there is plenty of time to learn science in middle and high school

65%

68%

Don't know

5%

4%

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q16. Please tell me how much each of the following would improve math and science education in your local schools. Would you say that this would improve math and science education a lot, a little or would it do nothing at all?

Have local businesses provide internships and other business partnership programs, so high school students can gain practical job skills

A lot

69%

71%

A little

24%

22%

Nothing at all

5%

5%

Don't know

2%

3%

Requiring all students to take four years of math in high school

A lot

68%

68%

A little

23%

22%

Nothing at all

6%

8%

Don't know

1%

2%

Requiring students who are struggling with math or science to spend extra time after school or during the summer to catch up

A lot

59%

61%

A little

32%

28%

Nothing at all

9%

10%

Don't know

1%

2%

Putting math and science ideas in television, video games and other media directed towards children

A lot

61%

60%

A little

30%

29%

Nothing at all

8%

9%

Don't know

*

2%

Attracting better math and science teachers by providing full college scholarships to people who major in math or science and agree to teach these subjects in public school for at least five years

A lot

58%

60%

A little

32%

29%

Nothing at all

7%

7%

Don't know

3%

4%

Requiring all high school students to take a science class that includes lab work

A lot

55%

59%

A little

35%

31%

Nothing at all

9%

8%

Don't know

1%

2%

Requiring all students to take four years of science

A lot

56%

54%

A little

33%

32%

Nothing at all

9%

10%

Don't know

2%

4%

Requiring all 8th grade students to take algebra

A lot

55%

54%

A little

31%

30%

Nothing at all

12%

13%

Don't know

2%

3%

Establishing a national curriculum in MATH so that schools everywhere teach the same topics

A lot

52%

53%

A little

31%

27%

Nothing at all

15%

16%

Don't know

3%

3%

Requiring students to pass challenging tests in math and science in order to graduate

A lot

48%

50%

A little

34%

31%

Nothing at all

16%

16%

Don't know

1%

3%

Grouping fast learners together in one class and slower learners together in another

A lot

46%

49%

A little

26%

24%

Nothing at all

25%

24%

Don't know

3%

3%

Establishing a national curriculum in SCIENCE so that schools everywhere teach the same topics

A lot

50%

48%

A little

31%

30%

Nothing at all

16%

18%

Don't know

3%

4%

Requiring all high school students to take at least one engineering class

A lot

44%

39%

A little

38%

38%

Nothing at all

15%

20%

Don't know

3%

4%

A science fair held by schools nationwide, and winning students will get to visit the White House

A lot

39%

36%

A little

38%

37%

Nothing at all

22%

25%

Don't know

1%

3%

Allowing experts in math and science to teach in public schools, even if they do not have a teaching certificate

A lot

36%

36%

A little

34%

30%

Nothing at all

25%

29%

Don't know

5%

5%

Paying math and science teachers more than English and social studies teachers because those positions are hardest to fill

A lot

28%

27%

A little

35%

31%

Nothing at all

33%

38%

Don't know

3%

5%

There is no Q17

There is no Q18

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q19. How likely is it that your child will attend college after graduating high school? Would you say that it is...? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Very likely

73%

--

Somewhat likely

21%

--

Not too likely

1%

--

Not at all likely

2%

--

Don't know

2%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q20. When your child graduates from high school, will he/she have the skills needed to succeed in the WORKPLACE, will he/she lack these skills, or are you not sure? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Yes, child will have skills to succeed in the work world

69%

--

No, child will not

5%

--

Not sure

24%

--

Don't know

2%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q21. When your child graduates from high school, will he/she have the college-level MATH skills needed to succeed in COLLEGE, or will he/she lack these skills or are you not sure? [Base: Asked of parents with high school children likely to attend college]

Yes, child will have skills to succeed in college

62%

--

No, child will not

5%

--

Not sure

17%

--

Don't know

2%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q22. When your child graduates from high school, will he/she have the college-level SCIENCE skills needed to succeed in COLLEGE, or will he/she lack these skills or are you not sure? [Base: Asked of parents with high school children likely to attend college]

Yes, child will have skills to succeed in college

61%

--

No, child will not

7%

--

Not sure

18%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q23. Would you say your child does better in math, in English, or about equal in both subjects? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Math

29%

--

English

16%

--

Equal in both

52%

--

Don't know

2%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q24. And which subject would you say your child enjoys more - math, English, or both equally? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Math

35%

--

English

30%

--

Equal in both

30%

--

Don't know

5%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q25. Do you think that with the right math teacher your child will ever be as good in math as in English or do you think that your child will always be better in English than in math? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children who do better in English]

Math

20%

--

English

41%

--

Equal in both

32%

--

Don't know

6%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q26. Do you think that with the right English teacher your child will ever be as good in English as in math, or do you think that your child will always be better in Math than in English? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children who do better in math]

Math

61%

--

English

13%

--

Equal in both

22%

--

Don't know

4%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q27A(1). And would you say your child is better at science than at Math? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children who did better in Math than English]

Math

69%

--

English or Reading/Writing

6%

--

Science

15%

--

Don't know

11%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q27A(2). And would you say your child is better at science than at English? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children who did better in English than Math]

Math

6%

--

English or Reading/Writing

70%

--

Science

20%

--

Don't know

5%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q28. In general, do you think the MATH your child is learning is harder, easier or about the same as when you were in school? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Harder

61%

--

Easier

8%

--

About the same

26%

--

Don't know

4%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q29. In general, do you think the SCIENCE your child is learning is harder, easier or about the same as when you were in school? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Harder

49%

--

Easier

8%

--

About the same

38%

--

Don't know

5%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q30. Keeping in mind there is a limited amount of time in the school day, do you think the elementary school should be teaching your child a lot more of the following, should there be less emphasis, or is he/she learning enough as is? [Base: Asked of parents with elementary school children]

Computer and technology skills

More

59%

--

Less

3%

--

The same

32%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

2%

--

Don't know

*

--

Reading and writing skills

More

54%

--

Less

*

--

The same

41%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

*

--

Don't know

1%

--

Hands-on science activities

More

52%

--

Less

4%

--

The same

38%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Handwriting and penmanship

More

52%

--

Less

3%

--

The same

40%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

*

--

Learning how to cooperate, share and work with other classmates

More

50%

--

Less

1%

--

The same

45%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

*

--

Don't know

*

--

General math concepts like estimation and word problems

More

49%

--

Less

3%

--

The same

40%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

4%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Basic math like multiplication and long division

More

49%

--

Less

3%

--

The same

36%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

8%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Physical education

More

41%

--

Less

4%

--

The same

49%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

*

--

Social studies and geography

More

39%

--

Less

3%

--

The same

50%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

3%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Art or music

More

34%

--

Less

10%

--

The same

49%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

2%

--

Don't know

*

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q31. Keeping in mind there is a limited amount of time in the school day, do you think the high school should be teaching your child a lot more of the following, should there be less emphasis, or is he/she learning enough as is? [Base: Asked of parents with middle or high school children]

Computer programming

More

65%

--

Less

3%

--

The same

27%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

*

--

Don't know

1%

--

Practical math skills like figuring out sales tax and balancing a checkbook

More

65%

--

Less

3%

--

The same

26%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Teaching students to work well as part of a team

More

62%

--

Less

2%

--

The same

29%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Basic reading and writing skills

More

55%

--

Less

1%

--

The same

38%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

*

--

Don't know

1%

--

Basic engineering principles

More

52%

--

Less

5%

--

The same

32%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

3%

--

Don't know

3%

--

Basic scientific ideas and principles

More

51%

--

Less

4%

--

The same

40%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

*

--

Don't know

1%

--

Statistics and probability

More

49%

--

Less

7%

--

The same

35%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

2%

--

Don't know

3%

--

Concepts taught in algebra

More

47%

--

Less

6%

--

The same

41%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Foreign language skills

More

45%

--

Less

9%

--

The same

39%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Civics and social studies

More

45%

--

Less

5%

--

The same

43%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

2%

--

Advanced sciences, like physics

More

42%

--

Less

7%

--

The same

41%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

3%

--

Don't know

2%

--

Advanced math, like calculus

More

42%

--

Less

7%

--

The same

39%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

4%

--

Don't know

4%

--

Fine arts, such as painting, music and drama

More

40%

--

Less

10%

--

The same

42%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

2%

--

Don't know

2%

--

Sports and physical education

More

34%

--

Less

9%

--

The same

50%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

-

--

Don't know

2%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q32. Keeping in mind the fixed budget that schools operate on, do you think the schools should SPEND more, less or about the same on the following? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children unless otherwise noted]

Having science labs that are up-to-date and well-equipped [Base: Asked of parents with middle or high school children only]

More

70%

--

Less

1%

--

The same

22%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

1%

--

Don't know

1%

--

Having materials and equipment for students to practice hands-on learning in science [Base: Parents with elementary school children only]

More

69%

--

Less

4%

--

The same

22%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

*

--

Don't know

1%

--

Having equipment that can help students learn all the newest and most important computer and other advanced technology skills

More

68%

--

Less

6%

--

The same

25%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

-

--

Don't know

*

--

Hiring teachers who are highly knowledgeable about teaching math

More

65%

--

Less

3%

--

The same

31%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

-

--

Don't know

2%

--

Hiring teachers who are highly knowledgeable about teaching science

More

62%

--

Less

5%

--

The same

32%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

-

--

Don't know

2%

--

Hiring teachers who are highly knowledgeable about teaching reading and writing

More

61%

--

Less

4%

--

The same

34%

--

Course is not offered / not necessary

-

--

Don't know

1%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q33. For each that I read, please tell me if you agree or disagree with the following statement:

It is very important to me that my child takes some advanced math classes in high school [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Strongly agree

60%

--

Somewhat agree

24%

--

Somewhat disagree

10%

--

Strongly disagree

4%

--

Don't know

2%

--

It is very important to me that my child takes some advanced science classes in high school [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Strongly agree

54%

--

Somewhat agree

27%

--

Somewhat disagree

11%

--

Strongly disagree

6%

--

Don't know

3%

--

Most good colleges expect students to have advanced math and science courses like calculus or physics on their high school transcripts [Base: General public]

Strongly agree

45%

40%

Somewhat agree

32%

28%

Somewhat disagree

12%

16%

Strongly disagree

5%

10%

Don't know

7%

7%

My child's school has classes in technology, engineering or other applied math and science subjects [Base: Asked of parents with middle or high school children]

Strongly agree

37%

--

Somewhat agree

33%

--

Somewhat disagree

10%

--

Strongly disagree

8%

--

Don't know

8%

--

It would make my job or everyday life easier if I knew more advanced math and science [Base: General public]

Strongly agree

35%

30%

Somewhat agree

27%

26%

Somewhat disagree

18%

20%

Strongly disagree

18%

21%

Don't know

3%

3%

For what my child wants to do with their career they really only need to know basic math skills [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Strongly agree

22%

--

Somewhat agree

14%

--

Somewhat disagree

15%

--

Strongly disagree

37%

--

Don't know

12%

--

My child would be really unhappy if they ended up in a job or career that required doing a lot of math or science. [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Strongly agree

19%

--

Somewhat agree

12%

--

Somewhat disagree

23%

--

Strongly disagree

32%

--

Don't know

13%

--

I worry that some of what the schools are teaching in science may not be compatible with my religious beliefs [Base: General public]

Strongly agree

18%

19%

Somewhat agree

14%

13%

Somewhat disagree

19%

19%

Strongly disagree

44%

43%

Don't know

5%

6%

I know my child will not have a career that involves advanced math and science [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]

Strongly agree

18%

--

Somewhat agree

13%

--

Somewhat disagree

19%

--

Strongly disagree

31%

--

Don't know

19%

--

Parents (n=646)

All respondents (n=1406)

Q34. In the last school year, what were most of your child(ren)'s grades? [Base: Asked of parents with K-12 grade children]